BREATHTAKING BEAUTY

By Heather Turk

Natural and manmade beauty come together to create a true work of art at one of Southwest Florida’s most breathtaking attractions: Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens.

Encompassing 15 acres of land and another 10 acres of waterways, marshland and heritage mangroves, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens opened to the public in the fall of 2017. The perfect place to reconnect with nature, the Punta Gorda park not only showcases more than 4,500 plants, trees and bamboos integrated with Florida’s natural landscape, but also nearly 20 unique sculptures created by artists from around the globe.

“Peace River Gardens is a must-visit destination for every visitor and resident of Charlotte and its surrounding counties,” said Tanna Horner, the park’s executive director. “We see guests enter the beautiful grounds and take a deep relaxing breath. They walk away with a refreshed and inspired human spirit and a deeper connection to nature. That’s what our sanctuary is all about.”

Designed in collection rooms so that visitors can experience the intriguing diversity of each species, the park is home to some of the rarest and most interesting hibiscuses, cacti, staghorns, bromeliads, ferns and bougainvilleas that visitors will ever see. Unique flowering and fruit trees are sprinkled throughout the grounds as well, and a grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees were recently planted.

As guests stroll along the park’s near 2 miles of walking paths, they’ll pass by such noteworthy works as a yellow sculpture of Andy Warhol by Sarasota-based modern sculptor Jack Dowd, and a modern Zimbabwean Shona stone sculpture by Dominic Benhura of three life-size children playing the game Leap Frog. There’s also a pond with koi fish that guests can feed during their visit and a butterfly house. Many types of wildlife nest on the property, too, and there’s a gift shop filled with local, handcrafted treasures.

In addition to being a tranquil place to spend the afternoon, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens offers a full calendar of events throughout the year for visitors to enjoy. Special events visitors won’t want to miss include the “Caribbean Colors” exhibit on view through May 15, featuring a vibrant botanical display coupled with an on-site art studio by impressionist-expressionist painter Leoma Lovegrove, and the popular bi-annual Plant Sale on April 22. Guests can also regularly find a variety of plants available for purchase in the park’s garden shop.

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. A nominal admission fee applies for guests age 6 and older. Be sure to give yourself at least 90 minutes to experience everything the park has to offer, as you won’t want to rush through the relaxing retreat. peacerivergardens.org